foraminectomey

[phylly]

Hi Gil,
I did have a foraminotomy. Not the same as you to help with leg pain, but it did not work for me, in fact it really messed up my ADR's. It may be a good for you since you have never had an ADR. The surgery may relieve some nerve pressure and pain. I wish you luck with this.
Phylly

[mmglobal]

I've had 2 microdiscectomies with laminotomy before my successful lumbar ADR. I've had a couple of clients who had similar surgeries, but so much bone was removed in the decompression surgery that they lost the ADR option and were forced to fuse after the decompression surgery failed.

For myself, I'd consider a decompression surgery if the disc was in good enough shape that there is a reasonable chance to salvage the disc and get long term success. Doing these surgeries in cases where the disc is so severely compromised that the chance of long-term success is so small (and the need for more aggressive decompression is greater) may substantially reduce your options and chance for success in further surgeries. These decisions are very difficult because no path comes with certain success.

All the best,

Mark